Corporate/M&A
Latin America Guide 2025 : International Counsel
Band 1
Contact number
+1 212 558 4740About
Provided by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
S&C consistently leads the market in advising on Latin America M&A matters. We rank as the number one legal advisers on M&A by deal value over the last 10 and 15 years according to Refinitiv, having worked on precedent-setting matters in almost every country in Central and South America.
Our Latin America practice remains at the forefront in providing sophisticated counsel for companies and institutions within the region, as well as for multilatinas and multinationals with involvement in Latin America, on complex cross-border matters. We have advised on many largest-of-their-kind transactions and on nearly every major financial services asset sale in the region since the financial crisis.
Our client base covers a wide range of sectors including airlines, financial institutions, private equity, healthcare, telecommunications, consumer and construction products, real estate, and energy and natural resources. Recently, we have been advising Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) and Sumitomo Corporation (SC) on their pending sale to South32 Limited of the entirety of their collective 45% interest in Sierra Gorda ($1.19 billion for SMM’s 31.5% stake and $510 million for SC’s 13.5% stake), AT&T Inc. in its pending sale of Vrio Corp. to Grupo Werthein (Argentina); Canadian Pacific Railway in its merger agreement with Kansas City Southern worth $31 billion, which would create the first single-line rail network linking U.S.-Mexico-Canada; and more.
Chambers Review
Sullivan & Cromwell has a pre-eminent international practice group with a superb reputation, known for its ability to handle intricate M&A transactions. The firm caters to an impressive portfolio of blue-chip corporations and investment funds, as well as financial advisers involved in large-scale strategic transactions across a wide range of industry sectors. The corporate team comprises a prestigious bench of skilled practitioners recognised for their long-standing experience acting on various jurisdictions, most notably Argentina, Chile and Mexico.
Work Highlights
- Sullivan & Cromwell advised Bancolombia on its agreement with Patria Investments, whereby they agreed to enter into a joint venture for the development of an alternative asset management business in Colombia.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Sullivan & Cromwell are highly capable and intellectually curious lawyers. I always choose them for transactions which are not straightforward and which require outside-the-box thinking."
"Sullivan & Cromwell is an excellent firm with impressive capabilities and which knows our business goals. When you work with them, you receive full-service support from the entire firm."
"Sullivan & Cromwell are highly capable and intellectually curious lawyers. I always choose them for transactions which are not straightforward and which require outside-the-box thinking."
"Sullivan & Cromwell is an excellent firm with impressive capabilities and which knows our business goals. When you work with them, you receive full-service support from the entire firm."
Notable Practitioners
Well-regarded practitioner Sergio Galvis is renowned for his expertise in handling cross-border Latin American corporate matters. He benefits from his extensive experience in M&A transactions pertaining to Chile and Colombia.
"Sergio Galvis is a fountain of knowledge. He has many years of experience and is a highly capable lawyer."
Esteemed partner Werner Federico Ahlers benefits from his in-depth experience representing major industry players and private equity funds in multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions throughout Latin America. He particularly focuses on advising clients on complex acquisitions, mergers, and tender offers in the Argentine and Colombian markets.
"Werner Federico Ahlers is an excellent lawyer who is very practical in order to get the deal done. He focuses on the big issues and understands when to push for the protection required by the client."